The Most Downloaded Games from the App Store in 2023

The games industry is a success story to inspire anyone. It is a true global powerhouse that is expected to produce profits of $242.39 billion by the end of this year.

A large chunk of that is mobile gaming revenue. It is responsible for $89.25 billion and its popularity and market share are increasing all the time. Games developers are investing more into the mobile sector in recognition of that reality.

There is some divergence in how people prefer to play mobile games, with gamers split between browser and apps, but there is a clear majority in favor of the latter. Apps that have been optimized for phones will almost always give a better gaming experience, even if they require download and installation.

This article is going to take a look at what games are enjoying the most popularity among Apple App Store users in 2023.

Wolf Gold Slot

If you put together a list like this in any calendar year, you would certainly expect to find at least one slot game on it. They are the casino games that are most often played on mobiles because they are ideally suited to the devices.

The Wolf Gold slot that can be played by downloading the Virgin Games app is the hottest pick of 2023. It has a theme of wild animals, which means the five reels are filled with images of wolves, cougars, eagles and buffalo against a desert backdrop.

That is a pretty smart choice, as people love animals, but it is not the only reason why this game has hit. It has the potential to produce unlimited Free Spins that can trigger some really mammoth payouts for lucky players.

Plus, it is just one of the many top slots and table casino games that the Virgin Games app features.

Subway Surfers

This game has been downloaded no less than 304 million times in 2023 and it has ranked among the top App Store titles for several years now. It was the co-creation of SYBO Games and Kiloo and is part of the endless runner gaming genre.

It depicts four graffiti artists in an urban environment who are being chased by a metro inspector. The goal of the game is to evade capture while picking up gold coins and other items that can help you to progress within the game. There are also obstacles to be dodged along the way, including oncoming trains.

Subway Surfers is a fast, fun and simple game that is perfect for quick bursts of mobile play.

Dumb Ways to Die

A third game that has been setting the App Store on fire this year is Dumb Ways to Die. One of the reasons for that is the fact that it is a game that was created exclusively as an iOS app, but that is not the only factor.

It is a game inspired by a public campaign that was launched by Metro Trains in Australia, which was meant to encourage safety when using trains. The game promotes that message while also featuring a bunch of very stupid characters that players must try to prevent meeting sticky ends.

There are 82 different mini games involved, with that variety being another reason for its huge popularity among Apple mobile gamers. The fact that it is free to download does not hurt either.

Candy Crush Saga

This game seems to have been high on the list of most popular mobile titles for years now and it remains very big in 2023. Of course it has been updated with new game elements numerous times since it was first launched over a decade ago.

The idea is still the same though. There is a game grid filled with different colored candies and players must move them around to create matching lines of at least three. When they get a line, those candies disappear and are replaced by new ones.

Scoring is based on how long the matching lines are and reaching a certain score takes the player up to the next level. It is surprisingly compelling.

Attack Hole

Attack Hole was produced by Homa and it features a simple but really strange premise. There is a black hole and the player must manipulate the controls on their phone to move it around the game screen. The aim is to gobble up all of the guns and other weaponry to prevent enemies from attacking.

That might sound easy, but moving the black hole requires a light and agile touch, so it is a game of skill. That is why so many mobile gamers are downloading it, as gaming fans will always love games that test their mettle.

These are the five hottest App Store games for this year.